Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-02
The Big Strike.


New YORK, February 1.-The extern
sion of the strike TO freight-handlers on
the railroad piers of New York is the
most severe blow to commerce that the
Knights of Labor have struck. The Ell
feet on one road (the Jersey Central, IT
was admitted at the Office on the dock
this morning, was almost the complete
suspepsion of business. The men turned
out so suddenly that the company was
left at great disadvantage, and
its inability to deliver freight was
the cause Of much uneasiness to the
merchants. The men on the Pennsyl-
wanna piers along the North river are
ready to come out any minute the time
for receiving the answer to their de
mands from the company has EXPIRED
The Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern. Company's freight is handled 10y
the l. II. Starin Transportation Com
panv. and their men are in sympathy
with the frelght-handlers on the Other
roads and are ready TO come out at any
time.
At II o'clock to-day the manager II
the New York pier said they had not
then received any intimatlon that the
men wanted an increase. They were.
however, prepared for any emergency.
The Lehigh-Nalley freight-handlers at
Pier No, North river, have also notified
their employers that unless the demand
for an increase of salary was acceded
to they would quit work at noon to-day
The company will not cOncede the adj
vance.
At New York Central Pier % the su
perintendcnt said that he had not re
ccived any demand from the men
Everything was quiet. 1t IS reported
that the men are organized and viii
Join the strikers as soon rs the word Is
passed for them to do so. The EnC
road freight handlers made a demand
for an increase at the same time us tho
men on the other roads. The company
refuses to consider it and will give the
men determined fight.
The next move on the part of the
strikers will be to induce the train-mer
To come out, and thus tie up the rail
roads centring on the Jersey shore
There is some talk Of getting the deck
hands and firemen on the ferry-boat'
To ioin the strikers, but these men art
adverse to such course. The boa
service Of the Boston and Providence
Line has been suspended for the pres
ent. Two boats are laid up for repairs
and the difficulty in getting coal ano
freight handled was the cause OF the
withdrawal of the other.
The freight-handlers ON the Pennsyl
vania railroad, Piers Nos. /, ., and 8
North river, struck work ut l O'Clock
this afternoon. The freIght-handleri
of the Lehigh-Yalley railroad, at Piel
.. North river, numbering one hundred
and fifty men, struck at 2 Z. Nj. ans
Joined the ranks of the strikers. The
gates of the pier were at once closed.
Tae strike of freight-handlers on The
railroad piers this afternoon added
nearly 1900 men to the ranks of tn
strikers. The temporary stoppage o
freight throws out 700 trackmen. Oh
the Pennsylvania railrOadpiers only tel
men were left ut work. All the men OF
the piers of the Lehigh- Valley Railroa'
Company struck. The superintendent
told them that their places would b.
filed at once. Later III the afternoon
$50 ont of the 200 strikers on the Penn
syIyania returned to work, according Z
the statement OF the superintendent
The strikers claim that only twent..
went back. The men on Pier ) OF tn
Southern road of New Jersey stoppe'
work, and the pier was closed.
At the New York Central pier TIN
agent said he had all the men Ia
wanted. Most of them were Italians
but handled freight rapidly. On thu
Erie piers only ten men remai ned a
work. The agent said he would I'LL tn
places of the strikers tomorrow. Owe
one hundred of his men struck.
AT the headquarters OF the Oceal
Association tonight it wac said that tn
Coopers' Union, No. 2, had offered u
strike to aid the freight-hsndlers as 500
as desired. This union includes all tn
coopers employed ON the piers repair
ING and tightening up barrelled freigli
before slowing il on the vessels.
On the East-riyer front the places o
the strikers are very nearly all filed, bu
the new men work slowly, and pile
of freight have accumulated.
The Italians on the pier Of the Ma
lory Line are making good progress il
loading the Alamo. The vessel wi
be ready to sail Saturday.
An advance in pay was reported O